Collapsible tube and key and rest for same



Jan. 17, 9 9- I I L. BIIRUZALLID I ,1

GOLLAPSIBLE TUBE AND KEY AND REST FOR SAME Filed Dec 5, 19:55

' INVENTOR. iexander Bruzaud.

' ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 17, 1939 COLLAPSIBLE TUBE AND KEY AND BEST FOR SAME.

Lexander Bruzaud, New York, N. Y. Application December 3, 1935, Serial No. 52,662

10 Claims.

My invention concerns a key used for exuding the contents of a collapsible tube.

The preferred way of squeezing out a paste or plastic contained in a collapsible tube is to displace the contents of the tube from the bottom up; as the contents of the tube are thus dispensed, the bottom end of the tube is pressed flat; and the flattened part is rolled or folded up, step by step, until the tube is empty.

' My invention is an implement for rolling the collapsible tube up from the bottom; but at the same time it provides a rest or stand for supporting a collapsible tube in substantially upright position.

I shape the key of my invention, so that it may readily be attached to a collapsible tube. Due to purely commercial considerations, but also as a cautionary measure, I may provide keys which fit only one tube or one kind of collapsible tubes.

In contradistinction to the prior art, in which the base edge of the collapsible tube is straight;

such special adaptation in true key fashion involves an irregular shape of the bottom edge of the collapsible tube; i. e. said edge is curved, e. g.

offset in zig-zag formation, in conformity and for cooperation with a so-called crank formation 7 of the key. Thus I impart to the flattened bottom end of a collapsible tube a three-dimen- ;siona1 aspect, which entails structural rigidity;

the value of such departure is enhanced in conjunction with another object mentioned below,-

according to which my key serves as a rest supporting the tube in an upright position. Whereas the prior art required that the upright portion of the tube was more or less tightly filled in order to stand erect, my introduction of an appreciable third dimension at the very base of the tube causes structural reinforcement and obviates continuous, tight jamming of the key;

Thus the tube will readily remain erect although the key is not turned except at comparatively large angles, e. g. about 72.

Besides, since no jamming is necessary, a tube -of my construction is tensioned very little during use; and collapsible tubes notoriously have a limited tensional strength. It is an object of this invention that the key,

after it has been affixed to a collapsible tube, exudes contents of the tube with only the slightest exertion; that the key may be manipulated as ;a way that it will roll up the tube straight, even,

An upright position is convenient for handling the tube and from the standpoint of neatness, it involves economy in the space occupied by the tube, and it facilitates the election of a desired tube among a number of stored tubes.v

A key of my invention is extremely simple and merely comprises two substantially pentagonal or radially spoked handles, which are secured upon opposite sides of a collapsible tube. At the same time they may be spacedly interconnected, e. g., by an arbor,'to which thelower end of a collapsible tube may be readily attached, and upon which it may be wound or rolled up;

The feature of reinforcement allows large an gular steps in winding my key. Still I prefer, to have the positions of rest spaced apart to less than a right angle, thus facilitating the setting up of the key at conveniently angular positions. The fact that the flanges are flared awayfrom'each other facilitates manipulation of the key of my invention.

Thus my invention represents a very simple device, but also a clear departure from the old art and it may be executed in many different I ways. In order to render a clear description of my invention, I explain in the following one specific example of my invention in detail; it is however understood that this specific description is-purely illustrative and is not rendered by way of limitation. I

In the accompanying drawing:-

Fig 1 shows a collapsible tube partly rolled up upon a key of my, invention in a side view.

Fig. 2 shows the key in a top View.

Fig. 3 shows a key in a perspective side view, ready to receive and support a tube C; note the exemplary modification in the crank formation as compared with Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 shows a partly sectioned side view of a key of my invention, which is exemplarily integral and moulded, e. 'g., a die casting. A bulge B as a hub provides fordistribution of the material in the manufacture.

Figs. 5 and 6 refer to modified integral executions of my key:

Fig. 5 is a blank stamping.

Fig. 6 shows'a partly finished view of one end of the key; the shaped arbor H is in the process of being bent up, whereas the broken lines indicate the final position of the arbor and the finished article, into which the blank of Fig. 5 is bent. The flanges may be additionally secured upon the arbor, e. g. by spot welds at A.

. Within the knowledge of those versed in the mechanical arts, the parts may of course be. completely brazed or welded together.

Fig. 7 shows the irregular edge E, which I provide on a collapsible tube C, said tube being here shown in an end view. Such a tube stands erect in a key of my invention.

Similar numerals refer to similar throughout the various views:

The apices of the preferably conical handles or flanges iii of the keys of Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are interconnected, as hubs, by the arbors II. From the ends of the arbors may extend tongues or spikes ll which fit through perforations in the hubs of the flanges l6, and which are turned over, so that the flanges are aligned with each other in parallelism to the arbor.

In a manner well known to those acquainted parts with this art, the arbor ll may of course also be integral with the flanges it, e. g., shaped out thereto, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The bent-up arbor may be suitably secured, e. g., by spot weld A, upon the flanges. 7

Likewise, instead of being built up from flat stock, the key may of course be cast or molded in any suitable material, and with modified profiles, again with integral arbor and flanges as taught by Fig. 4. I

The arbor ll may have any preferred shape, e. g., it may be bifurcated, for engaging upon the base of collapsible tubes. For the purpose of my example I have chosen a U-shaped cross-section, with a longitudinal slot l2. so that the tube may be set into the trough-like arbor. implement of my invention is to work in true key fashion so that it fits one-tube only, or one type of tubes, the arbor is curved as indicated in Fig.

2, and in the modification of Fig. 3., Of coursethese are only exemplary selections of a great many configurations of specific bit-type key; it is however desirable that the eccentricity caused by curving the arbor at one point, e. g. 2!, in one direction, be offset by curving it elsewhere, e. g. at 22, to the same extent in the opposite direction, in relation to the axis around which" the key of my invention is rotated in crank fashion.

The flanges of the key of my invention may be executed in many diflerent materials as well as polygonal shapes (e. g. spoked, webbed, or solid) likewise I am not limited in respect to the number of corners I provide on the flanges, except within the considerations of my introductory remarks; it is however understood that the distance between adjacent corners determines the spread of these corners as legs of the support, which purpose the key of my invention serves in connection with the collapsible tube mounted thereon. On the other hand, in order to'provide multi-cornered flanges, which will stand in support of the collapsible tube at substantially any position into which the said tube is wound onto the arbor of the key, 5 corners are provided for in the draw ings.

For the sake of stability I prefer to give the flanges a shortest diameter larger than the diameter of the tube they are applied to.

If the" extending from central hubs. These are preferably attenuated to points It], obviously in consideration of the'spread desired when the key serves as a support or leg.

The flanges l6 are oppositely flared out, being convex where they face each other, so that they clear the body of the tube, and may readily be manipulated. At the same time the inwardly convex, conical or pyramidal flanges serve to align the arbor in a direction normal to the exmanipulation of said arbor, said flanges being outwardly flared away from each other, so that they extend clear of a collapsible tube, when such tube is wound on said arbor.

2. In combination with a collapsible tube; a key and rest for said tube comprising a multicornered conical flange, the corners of said flange being disposed at the periphery of the base of the cone, the flange extending substantially in the conicalsurface of such a cone, a winding arbor, anda hubat the apex of said flange and engaged upon one side of said arbor, said flange serving for manipulating said arbor, when a colj upon one side of said'arbor, said arbor extending away from the cone.of said flange, said flange serving for manipulating said arbor, when a collapsible tube is to be wound thereon.

4. In combination with a collapsible tube, a key and rest for said tube comprising:multicornered conical flanges, .the corners of each flange being disposed at the periphery of the base of the cone, each flange extending substantially in the conical surface'of such a cone, a winding'arbor, and hubs at the apices of said flanges and mounted on op posite sides of said arbor so that said conical flanges. flare away from each other for ready manipulation alongside of a tube wound on said arbor. a

5. A key and rest for a collapsible tube comprising a winding arbor, flanges spaced apart by said arbor, one of said flanges being multicornered and outwardly flared away from the other in pyramid fashion. so that said flange ex tends away from a collapsible tube wound on said "spaced apart by said arbor, one of said flanges being outwardly flared away-from the other and substantially forming the outline of a pyramid. so that said flange extends away from a collapsible tube wound on said tube and may thus be readily manipulated.

'7. A key and rest for a collapsible tube'comprising a winding arbor, multicornered flanges.

spaced apart by said arbor, said flanges being symmetrically outwardly flared away from each other in the outlines of pyramids, respectively, so as to provide manipulating clearance when a collapsible tube is wound on said arbor between said flanges.

8. In a key and rest for a collapsible tube, a winding arbor eccentrically offset intermediate its ends in crank shaft fashion, and flanges at the ends of said arbor serving for a rest when a collapsible tube is mounted on the arbor, and for winding manipulation of the arbor.

' 9. In a key and rest for a collapsible tube, a

winding arbor eccentrically offset intermediate its ends in crank shaft fashion in opposite directions, and flanges at the ends of said arbor serving for a rest when a collapsible tube is mounted on the arbor, and for winding manipulation of the arbor.

10. In a key and rest for a collapsible tube, sets of handle spokes v serving as legs and for key manipulation, and a winding arbor interconnecting said sets and shaped to support and kinked it is mounted on said key and rest.

LEXANDER BRUZAUD. 

